Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

All Ph.D. and M.S. applications are evaluated together after the deadline.

Letters of reference:

Number Required: 3

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members familiar with the applicant's academic competence and professionals in a supervisory position.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

Before entering the program, it is recommended that applicants complete courses (or their equivalent as determined by the School of Pharmacy) in Mathematics, at least through differential equations, and Physical Chemistry.

Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

No.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

A baccalaureate degree in BIology, Chemistry, Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical), Pharmacy, or Physics is required.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should be approximately 500-1,000 words and should include the following elements: your particular interest in Temple's program; your research goals; your future career goals; and your academic and research achievements.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GRE is required. The score should be in the 65th percentile or above. Recent scores have been in the range of 650-700+ quantitative and 500-600+ verbal.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

A total of 12 research s.h. must be taken by all Ph.D. students. Doctoral students must complete a minimum of 6 s.h. of research after elevation to Ph.D. candidacy and before graduation.

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Culminating Events:

Preliminary Examination:

The purpose of the preliminary examination is to demonstrate critical and interpretive knowledge in specialized areas of Pharmaceutics. The written exam evaluates the student's ability to apply specific research foci to anticipated practical problems in Pharmaceutics.
Students who have accumulated more than 40 didactic credits are eligible to take the exam.

The examination is offered in physical pharmacy (required) and two of the following subjects: biopharmaceutics, chromatographic separations, pharmaceutical manufacturing (extended release dosage forms and pharmaceutical manufacturing I), and pharmacokinetics. Instructors in graduate courses are asked by the student's advisor to write questions for the preliminary exam. Individual instructors assess the student's competence (pass or fail) in each section of the exam.

Students who are preparing to write their preliminary examination should confirm a time and date with the Director of Graduate Studies and register with the Graduate Secretary. The student and Director will receive confirmation of the time, date, room, and proctor for the examination.

Dissertation Proposal:

The dissertation proposal demonstrates the student's knowledge of and ability to conduct the proposed research. The proposal should consist of the following: (a) the context and background surrounding a particular research problem; (b) an exhaustive survey and review of literature related to the problem; and (c) a detailed methodological plan for investigating the problem. The proposal should be completed and approved no more than one year after taking the preliminary exam. Upon approval, a doctoral student is promoted to a Ph.D. candidate and a timeline for completing the investigation and writing process is established.

Dissertation:

The doctoral dissertation is an original, theoretical, and/or empirical study that makes a significant contribution to the field of Pharmaceutics. It should expand existing knowledge and demonstrate the student's knowledge of both research methods and a mastery of her/his primary area of interest. The dissertation should be rigorously investigated; uphold the ethics and standard of the Pharmaceutics field; demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the primary area of interest and the broader field of Pharmaceutics; and be prepared for publication in a professional journal.

The Dissertation Advising Committee is formed to oversee the student's doctoral research and is composed of at least three Graduate Faculty members. Two members, including the Chair, must be from the School of Pharmacy. Committee compositions must be approved by the department's graduate committee. The Chair is responsible for overseeing and guiding the student's progress, coordinating the responses of the Committee members, and informing the student of her/his academic progress.

The Dissertation Examining Committee evaluates the student's dissertation and oral defense. This committee is comprised of the Dissertation Advising Committee and at least one additional Graduate Faculty member from outside the School of Pharmacy. The outside examiner should be identified no later than the beginning of the semester in which the student will defend the dissertation.

If a student needs to change a member of a Committee, the new member must be approved by the department's graduate committee and the Graduate School and must be registered with the Graduate Secretary and the Graduate School.

The Dissertation Examining Committee evaluates the student's ability to express verbally her/his research question, methodological approach, primary findings, and implications. The Committee votes to pass or fail the dissertation and the defense at the conclusion of the public presentation.

Students who are preparing to defend their dissertation should confirm a time and date with their Dissertation Advising Committee and register with the Graduate Secretary at least 15 days before the defense is to be scheduled. The Graduate Secretary arranges the time, date, and room within two working days, and forwards to the student the appropriate forms.
After the Graduate Secretary has arranged the time, date, and room for the defense, the student must send to the Graduate School a completed "Announcement of Dissertation Defense" form at least 10 days before the defense. The department posts flyers announcing the defense.

About the Program

The School of Pharmacy offers graduate program leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences. The programs are designed to prepare students for positions in the pharmaceutical industry, government agencies, and academic positions in schools of pharmacy.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 7 years

Campus Location:

Health Sciences, Fort Washington

Students may take a majority of required and elective courses at the Health Sciences and Fort Washington campuses. Some courses may be offered on Main campus. Research must be carried out at the Health Sciences campus under the supervision of a faculty member in the department.

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

The Ph.D program is considered full-time. A minimum residency of one year is required during which the student must work full-time in a laboratory at the School of Pharmacy under the direction of a faculty member in the department.

Job Placement:

The program is primarily intended to provide research scientists for the pharmaceutical industry, government agencies, and faculty positions in academia.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Degree Student Policy:

Non-matriculated students are permitted to take up to 9 credits before formal application must be made to the program.

Financing Opportunities

Support options include University Fellowships and Teaching and Research Assistantships. Recipients of support are determined on a competitive basis during the admission process. Fellowships and assistantships include full tuition remission (up to 9 credits) and a monthly stipend. Assistants, whether Teaching or Research, are expected to work 20 hours per week. The principal duties of a Teaching Assistant include assisting faculty members in laboratory instruction; preparing apparatus or materials for Pharm.D. students; conducting recitations; grading quizzes and reports; and proctoring exams. Resesarch Assistants engage in research as assigned to a specific faculty member. The research subjects are determined by consultation between the student and her/his research advisor. The department makes offers of assistantships on or before May 1. June 1 is the final date for acceptance or declination of department offers of support. Applications should be directed to the Office of Graduate Admissions, Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Temple University School of Pharmacy, 3307 North Broad Street, Suite 407, Philadelphia, PA 19140.